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Politics

Miss. Local Officials Could Get to Set 2 Holidays

City and county governments in Mississippi might get more flexibility to declare local holidays.

Tease photo Crime

Opening Statements in Florida Trial Over Loud Music Killing

Prosecutors are presenting their opening statements in the trial of a Florida man charged with fatally shooting a 17-year-old teen during an argument over loud music at a Jacksonville gas …

World

Peace Talks Start Between Pakistan, Taliban Team

Peace talks between the Pakistani government and representatives of the Taliban began on Thursday after a short delay, the first test for the government's controversial initiative of seeking a peaceful …

World

Sochi's Opening Show: Let Putin's Games Begin

They're designed to celebrate a millennium of Russian might and this country's modern rebound, and kick off two weeks of extraordinary human endeavors and planetary sportsmanship. But the ceremony opening …

World

E.U. Seeking to Upgrade Bloc's Ties with Cuba

Europe is set to upgrade its ties with Cuba in a bid to broaden economic cooperation and demand more progress on respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, a senior European …

National

Obama: Religious Freedom a U.S. Diplomatic Priority

President Barack Obama tells a non-denominational gathering of political leaders that freedom of religion across the world is important to national security and is a central tenet of U.S. diplomacy.

Politics

Miss. Mulls Modest Fine for Texting While Driving

The Mississippi Senate has voted to make texting and driving a crime—but not much of one.

World

Israel Issues Permits for East Jerusalem Housing

Israeli planners on Wednesday gave final approval for 558 apartments in Jewish settlements in war-won east Jerusalem, which is sought by the Palestinians as a capital, officials said.

World

Putin, Recalling Boston Bombers, Wants Sochi Safe

President Vladimir Putin pointed Wednesday to the Boston Marathon bombings as a big reason for the intense security around the Winter Olympics that Russia is kicking off this week.

Business

Obama Praises CVS for Pulling Tobacco from Shelves

President Barack Obama is praising CVS Caremark for its decision to stop selling tobacco products at its drugstores.

Education

Lawmakers Consider Some School District Mergers

Four more pairs of school districts could face mergers under bills passed Tuesday by Mississippi legislative committees.

National

Senate Sends Farm Bill to Obama

The sweeping farm bill that Congress sent to President Obama Tuesday has something for almost everyone, from the nation's 47 million food stamp recipients to Southern peanut growers, Midwest corn …

National

New Wave of Heroin Claims Hoffman and Others

News of the death of Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman from an apparent heroin overdose seemed like an echo from the past, a blurry memory of a dangerous drug that …

World

Sea Survivor's Salvadoran Family Thought He Died

A Salvadoran fisherman's account of his survival after more than 13 months and about 6,500 miles in an open boat has proved a double miracle for his mother and father, …

World

Putin Strokes Leopard, Wins IOC Support

Stroking a Persian leopard sprawled on his lap, tough-guy President Vladimir Putin showed his softer side Tuesday as he prepared to welcome the world to his budget-busting Winter Olympics.